Top 5 Study Apps for College Students

Nearly 18 million college students in the U.S. enrolled in a 4-year or 2-year college program in the fall of 2022. Technology, now, more than ever, is playing a big role in the educational experience. It can be a major asset to college students who are looking to gain an edge in their studies.

A Digital Trends Survey conducted by McGraw-Hill showed that 81% of college students cited digital learning technology, like study apps, to be a useful resource for helping them improve their grades. This means that many mobile apps can now extend beyond their normal entertainment-based categories into the educational apps category.

Some college students are even turning to the social media platform TikTok for help with their coursework. Intelligent.com, a college ranking site, recently initiated a study of 1,000 four-year college students. Of those surveyed, 58% of students stated that they preferred using TikTok for help with Math, English, and Art subjects over traditional search engines.

TikTok may not fit the bill for some colleges and professors as an educational app. However, there are still plenty of great study apps available for students to choose from. If you're interested in learning more about the top 5 study app options available, keep reading below.

1. Evernote

Evernote is one of the top study apps for a reason. It gives students more control over how they take notes so they can choose the way that works best for them.

Everything is searchable and shareable. Evernote can even be customized for each individual college student's needs. 

Evernote is also one of the best notetaking and study apps for college freshmen. It has a suite of organizational tools that help disorganized freshmen learn how to manage all the different facets of being a good student. They can organize syllabi, lectures, slides, notes, and teacher websites with ease. 

Using Evernote can help build up a college student's organizational skills and give them better study habits. They no longer have to deal with messy old binders stuffed with overflowing papers that can get lost or destroyed.

Information can be categorized and stored in one place. So there's no more worrying about forgetting to bring important documents to class anymore. 

Top Features and Functions of Evernote

Evernote is chocked full of great features and benefits for college students. Here are some of the highlights:

• Ability to take notes in multiple formats such as photos, text, audio, video, and music
• Sharable documents and PDFs with other students for group projects
• Sync and access notes across all devices automatically using Evernote
• Organize each class into its own digital notebook
• Searchable notes, attachments, tags, and notebooks for easy location of information
• Customized color, title, and emoji options for added personalization 

Another aspect of Evernote that helps make it one of the best study apps for college students on the go is its slide deck download feature. This helpful option allows the student to download their teacher's slides, which are then turned into notes in the app.

Students can even write questions, edit the slides, and add notes and images directly to the slides themselves. They can access these slides anytime they want as a review of their lesson. With Evernote, they can view their notes on their phones, laptops, and tablets on the way to class.

Evernote is available as a free trial with the option to upgrade to a Personal or Professional level for access to more features.

2. StudyBlue

StudyBlue is another one of the great study apps that can be utilized by busy college students on the move. 

The average college student likely has their phone on them non-stop throughout the day. So, StudyBlue can be used whenever college students have free time to access it. This can make studying easier for students who may be struggling to maintain a work-life balance.

You can turn your smartphone even smarter by making it into a combination mobile quiz, flashcard, and textbook refresher course device. It is primarily a free flashcard-creating and sharing app for use by high school and college students. These flashcards are fully customizable by students and saveable within class-specific study guides.

Students can even add their university information and join their classmates to share study flashcards with one another in their corresponding classes. They can edit other classmates' flashcards and make them their own to save. Like Evernote, students can also use video and audio notes in addition to text notes. 

StudyBlue allows students to turn their notes and flashcards into self-created quizzes on content. These quiz scores are saved for self-analysis and assessment purposes.

Top Functions and Features of StudyBlue

Although not as advanced as the Evernote platform, StudyBlue still allows for the improvement of note organization and study habits. This can also contribute to better college student time management skills. Here's a rundown of its top features and functions:

• Offers flashcard suggestions on your areas of study
• Easily copy, edit, and share flashcards with your classmates
• Interactive self-quizzing feature makes learning more immersive
• Simple user interface allows you to create flashcards and attach audio and video notes
• Sync info and access online study guides on your phone from anywhere
• Completely free to use

An added bonus of using StudyBlue is the added ability to organize your flashcards and study materials for use across multiple different classes.

Students are also able to set study reminders as part of their time management strategy. They can set up their own class study groups online and add their classmates to these groups to share their flashcards with.

3. Quizlet

Like other study apps, Quizlet helps college students with their note-taking and memorization skills through interactive flashcards. Access free flashcards across thousands of different areas of subject matter or create your own from scratch. Flashcards can also be shared with other students and groups.

The Quizlet Live function uses interactive learning games for students to play together. Quizlet also offers an AI tutor program called "Q-Chat" which helps users understand concepts rather than just focusing on rote memorization and vocabulary. A personal learning assistant helps track college student progress and shows them where improvement is needed.

Quizlet has 7 different learning modes that allow students to change up how they learn. There's a standard flashcard mode, but there are also modes like a "Fill-in-the-Blank" mode that requires students to write in the answer and a "Spelling" mode that requires students to know the correct spelling of a term or definition. A "Test" feature lets students quiz themselves on their knowledge of a study set, while a "Match" mode lets students pair terms with their definitions. 

Top Features and Functions of Quizlet

While some of its user interface is similar to other app options, Quizlet still manages to have some of its own individuality. Here are some key reasons why Quizlet stands out as one of the top study apps:

• Offers 7 distinct learning modes with varying functionality to change up student learning patterns
• Educational game formats break up the monotony of learning and studying
• Shareable flashcards with classmates and groups
• Quizlet Live lets students compete in a fun and interactive educational quiz-style game show format
• Easily accessible on both mobile and laptop devices
• Access pre-made informational flashcards or create your own

Quizlet offers a free version of its app for college student use. However, it contains ads that may be distracting to some and interfere with the learning process.

The Plus version of Quizlet gives you an ad-free experience plus a host of great features and accessibility. You can pay $7.99 per month or upgrade to the annual plan for just $35.99 for a year, (approximately $2.99 per month), with a free 7-day trial. 

4. iStudiez Pro

The iStudiez Pro has been widely touted as a "college student's best friend" across many review sites. iStudiez Pro lives up to its name among other study apps because it is an all-in-one planning and organizational app for busy students. Its rich assortment of features lets students plan and color code their schedules, monitor assignment deadlines, and even track their grade-point average.

See your full schedule and a list of tasks laid out in bright and bold fully-coordinated living colors with everything organized down to a tee. Get alerts anytime there's a conflict in your schedule so you can prevent mix-ups and overlaps from happening. The Homework Planner also tracks assignments and reminds you when they're due so you'll never be caught unprepared.

iStudiez Pro is available for iOS, MacOS, Android, and Windows for free. There is also a Cloud Sync version available with previous full versions of the app and as a part of recurring paid plans. Integrate Cloud Sync with your iOS or Android-based calendar to have your schedule updated in real-time on every device you use.

Top Features and Functions of iStudiez Pro

iStudiez Pro's wealth of features makes it a tough contender on our list of top study apps for good reason. It can do almost anything except take your midterms for you. Here are just some of its great feature offerings:

• Two-way integration with Android and iOS calendar apps for easy sharing and scheduling
• Planner feature allows you to manage class details, instructor information, locations, grades, holidays, and more
• Homework scheduler makes managing assignment due dates a breeze
• Real-time mode scheduler shows color-coded class schedules and tasks
• Cloud Sync updates iStudiez Pro across all of your devices instantly
• Easy-to-use and read interface puts you in control of your schedule

A truly unique feature is the ability to calculate your GPA and know where you stand with the GPA Calculator. You can calculate grade points in letters, points, or percentages so you'll be on top of them no matter how your professor grades. You can even view the progress of your current grades through the Grades Graph feature. 

5. My Study Life

My Study Life is a cross-platform app planner designed with busy students in mind. Having My Study Life can help busy students create more effective study schedules. Students are able to data like their classes, exams, and assignments to the Cloud so they can access this information from wherever they are.

Like many other study apps, you can also use My Study Life to sync with your existing calendars. It takes all of the features of a paper planner and presents them in an easy and straightforward digital format. With everything cleanly and plainly laid out in front of you, you can see exactly when classes will take place, assignments are due, and tests are scheduled.

Having a well-planned schedule can make you a more organized and productive college student. You're in control of your class schedules with customizable school planners. With My Study Life, you can also track your tasks and set reminders to receive notifications so you won't forget an important exam or class assignment.  

Top Features and Functions of My Study Life

My Study Life can easily put other scheduling and study apps to shame with its integrative digital planner interface. On My Study Life, you'll find resourceful features and schedule planning functions such as: 

• Dedicated school-based planner app, not just another calendar or to-do list
• Focused dashboard shows an overview of daily tasks at a glance without needing to search for them, including incomplete upcoming tasks
• Specified percentage level of task completion instead of a basic "complete" or "incomplete" option
• Types of Tasks feature lets you label each task like "assignment" or "reminder" so you know exactly what each one is for
• Sends notifications when you have an upcoming class or assignment to remind you
• Works offline so you can still use it even without a Wi-Fi signal

My Study Life can help you elevate your college experience and take control of your schedule. Keep on top of your assignments, exams, and classes with targeted reminders and notifications. The dashboard tracks your daily schedule and tasks with ease so you can take on your day.

Find More Information on Study Apps and Other Student Resources at Honor Society 

Technology has come a long way since the early days. Now it's possible to have a dedicated digital planner, an intuitive study buddy, and a personal tutor right in the palm of your hand. Study apps can help you manage your time more effectively and give you the knowledge to succeed.

Honor Society also believes in giving you the tools and resources you need to be successful in your college endeavors. You'll find informative education articles, career postings, and Honor Society Foundation hosted scholarship listings, along with dining and health plan discounts.

Join today by filling out a new membership application on our website.